"You need momentum to deliver the nuclear option. The momentum will not come over and over again. This was Frist's chance and he blew it. It effectively passes control of the Senate to the Dems and McCain. Frist blinked and lost. He won't have the momentum again."
Couldn't agree more. Power is also as much about perception as reality. And tonight's events will create an image that McCain calls the shots in the Senate.
But with this agreement, all options remain on the table, including the constitutional option. If it had been necessary to deploy the constitutional option, it would have been successful and the senate would have, by rule, returned to the precedent in the past 214 years. Instead, tonight members have agreed that this precedent of up-or-down votes should be a norm of behavior as a result of the mutual trust and good will in that agreement.
I, of course, will monitor this agreement carefully as we move ahead to fill the pending 46 federal vacancies today. And any other vacancies that may yet arise during this congress. I have made it clear from the outset that i haven't wanted to use the constitutional option
I do not want to use the constitutional option, but bad faith in return to bad behavior during my tenure as majority leader will bring the senate back to the point where all 100 members will be asked to decide whether judicial nominees deserve a fair up-or-down vote. And I will not hesitate to call all members to their duty, if necessary. But for now, mr. President, as reflected in this agreement, i look forward to swift action on the identified nominations.
Now, the full impact of this agreement will await its implementation, its full implementation, but I do believe that the good faith and the good will all to guarantee a return to good -- ought to guarantee a return to good, appropriate behavior on the senate floor and that when the gavel falls on this congress, the 109th congress, the precedent of the last 214 years will once again govern up-or-down votes on the floor of the united states senate. Now, this will be spun by a victory, i would assume, for everyone. Some will say it is a victory for leadership. Some for the group of 14. I see it as a victory for the senate. I honestly believe it is a victory for the senate, where members have put aside a party demand to block action on judicial nominees. They have rose to principle and then acted accordingly.
McAin is Frist's pimp. Frist is wearing a plaid skirt and sucking a lolipop. Now the President has to VETO legislation when his party controls congress. Victory at the ballot box apparently does not translate to victory in washington. The Dems have been acting like they are still in control because they simply still are in control.